Opener for metal packs



Feb. 3, 1931'. R. E. PETERSON OPENER FOR METAL PAcxs FiledApril 17. 192e f Patented Feb. 3,",1931 Y Y. gl Y i, Y '.7 l I y UNITED STATES PATENT ofi-FICE i I Y `iw'LLANn;rrrrnns,o1\r,or GARY, rivnrnnn jj d l i 1 f i' ff'@BEBERFoRfMETALrAGKS) .e 2 i 1 A i* Y applicati@fuiaenpru17,1928. seria; No. 0,735;

This invention relates toV vmechanism for restoring the broken-'down edge to the origi opening-metal packs, andgit hasv for its pIg-i inal plane. A', ,Y fik, @j mary object to provide anapparatusvfor ef- The power for actuating thehammery is fectingiseparation off'the :sheetsofmrolled applied automaticallyy inlany practicallfman j 5I metal packs. 1 V- 1 y 1 ler, as .by operation ofa valvefofgthepower l55 v A furtherobjectis toprovideasimpleand cylinder effected automaticallythreughshifteffective apparatus f'by means 'ofwhich the .ing of a limit switch located in angelectrical sheets of a rolled metalpackmayvindividncontrolgcircuitfnot shown) ,fors`uc,h. fvalve,y allyand in rapid'succession be stripped from said switch4 being, solQcated Vthat;`shifting i 1o adhering relation tovon'e another. l Y thereof isveffected'byfthe advancingfpackat ce lVith these'andotherlobjects inview, ttli'e any appropriate point in the travelof rthre 'i invention-resides inthe features of'construclatter. f I ,Y Y 1 tion, arrangement of parts and-.combinations f Following the4 return ofthebrokenf down Y of elements which Willhereinafter be fully'v Vvedge ofthepack to theoriginal,jplane,y as.

I described, reference being hadto the, accomaforesaid, thepack; isradvanced through the 65 panyingdrawings, in which-j- Y pinch rolls l1V to a `position' .wherein its for- Figurel is a view'of the invention partly ward end overlies a magnet 7 and also under'- in longitudinalsection and part-ly inside lies a vacuum cup`8,'at which position said elevation 'and i f ,s vvacuum cupisactuated to seat-rmlylupon Figures 2 andV 3 are crosssectio-ns of the the top of the` forward edgef portion ofthe 70 l same takenfrespectively, substantially `lon topmost sheetof the pack andthen vto move' lines 2-2 and 3 3, Fig. 1. .to an elevated `position for .lifting said for- Referring to saidvdrawinga'lrdesignates a ward edge portionpf said-sheet; table upon' which are mounted 'in4 suitably The advance of the pack is then continued spaced relation a succession of pairs'of pinch lto direct saidl topmost sheet over, and the re-A 75,

rolls by means of which packs of rolled metal mainder of the pack lunder, Y or beneathya sheets are advanced over said table. Located l transversely j disposedy stationary Y blade 9 in advance of the entering pair 2 ofpinch whereby the splitting ,of'saidj topmcst sheet rolls isA avertically movable power hammer, from the-pack is effectedzflSuch advance caror break down, by vmeans of lwhich theffor-` ries the forward lend of AHsaid -topmcstsheet 80 ward edges of thesheets' of the-pack,fprefer=` to arsuitably located velevated `pair 0fpinch ably throughout a length of approximately rolls 1Q bywhich itjisseized, and'atthe same three inches, are broken downV for eectingat tirneenters the remainder ofthe sheets of the and adjacent to said edges an initial Vseparapackjin a. pair ofv pinch rolls 1 1. The said tion thereof, and also by means'ofwhich SaidA pairs of rolls l0k and 11 cooperate to draw 85 broken down edges are instantly re-bent,r0r thepackeforwardand in the advance move returned to the original plane thereof. .ment of the latter the blade9, which presents ,Y

Inv the illustrative construction shown, the a'knife-like edge, acts tofsever or split the top breakdown comprises'a hammer 3 carried by a most .sheet from the next adjacent sheetof the piston rod 4 adaptedptobe actuated lby `air pack. e A p. 5`

or other pressure admitted tc a Vpower icyl-v From the rolls l l0 theseparated vsheet is inder'. Said hammer has a transverse length advanced toa suitablecenveyor12wl1ereby it v exceeding the width of the packs which'are maybe ycarried to any suitable,deliverypoint. to be opened and has therein a slota through` The vacuum cup 8as-hereinfshown, is carwhich the packs are advanced. actuation, riedzby a piston yrod.' which nis reciprocable 95 said hammerl travels throughout` one com- Vand relative to a power cylinden Ylrjoffa type plete cycle; that is to say, the hammer is actusimilar te the cylinder 5 li'ereinbefQre reated to movedownward'fortherequired disferred to, butin whieha desired; interval oi tance for eifecting-breakingdewnofthe edge time lis permitted to elapsefbetween the seat: v of the pack *andlthen initially to ,returngyforing andfreturn-movements cifytlielc'up, the p iirf,

Cai

14 which is so positioned that itis shifted by contact therewith of the forward edge of the advancing pack at theproper instant, said switch bein@ located in an electrical circuit (fnot' shwna) which, when closed by such vshifting of said limit switch., effects admission tothecylinder'of the actuating'flnid. Ina'smuch as'power' cylinders ofthe character referred-to operate'd'through' thejclosing and opening fofel'ectric `co'nitrolfcircuits are well closure.

known-inthe lart-,and since the details of structure 'of such cylinders and, of their cir'- cuit connections form` no Ipart 'ofthis inventi'on,pschfd`eta-ils are oinitte'dfrom this dis- The magnet T-may be permanently energized or'it be,energized"onlyduring the 'interval during which the vacuum cup func-` tions to elevate and support the Y topmosrJ sli'eet. So energized, it attracts andV holds downthfe-forward end'of the pack with sufficient force to prevent elevation of other than the topnr'io's'tsheet.y As is manifest, the force exerted 'by 'said magnet 'supplements the force of gravity lacting upon the forward endof the "ack andthe ma'neticforce exerted u on the sheets of the pack progressively decreases from the lowermostof vthe'uppermost sheet,

so that the resistance offered to elevation of the said topino'st sheet mayniore or Yless readily be overcome by the lifting force exerted by the vacuum cup. Y j rIhe sheets remaining' in thev pack following` passage through the pinch rolls 1l" act to shift a limit switch'la for effecting actuation of a second vacuumV cup 8y which overhangs a second holding magnet 7^ just prior tothe time that the foremost vedge `of the pack reaches Vthe position of a second sheet stripping blade `9,', andlwhich acts to elevate the topmost sheet 'and directthe same toa second pair of elcvate'dpinch rolls l0 while the remaining sheets of the pack are advancedbeneath said blade to-ajset` of pinch rolls lvl". Additional vacuum cups 8, limit switches 14, magnets 7, blades 9 and rolls l0 are provided in succession and in such number that vall of the various sheets composing the pack are successively separated 'in the man-V ner hereinbefore described. j

j Should any Y(if the successive vacuum cups fail to eixcrttheforc'e required to elevate the'y end" ofth'e topmost sheet, as described, they pack will -obviously be advanced to the next, whereby it may function. 1n such case, the separation of the sheets may be eected; but, should none of the cups so function, the entire pack will pass through the machine without injury either to the latter or to the pack. f

VWhile I have herein specifically described one form which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration 'and' thatV the invention may be modified and-embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit o-r the scope of the appendedclaims. Y

l. 'A- machine for separating the sheets kof path of travel of the pack, aholding magnet beneath. 'said' path of travel f or supplement- Yingthefforceof gravity acting upon'the pack,

meansmrovableuinto 'liftingrelation to the foremost edge-portion of the topmost sheet of the travelingv pack whereby saidI sheet is directed over the top of vsaid blade,. and a pair of pinch rollslocated forautoihat-ically seizing said elevated edge portion of said sheet and forremoving same yfrom the remainderr oftheV pack. f f

i 2, irniachine for Yseparating the sheets of metal'packs, comprising an alined succession of relatively spaced pairs of pack-feeding pinoli rolls, automatic means for preliminarily breaking down and restoring to 'the original plane thereofthe foremost edges of the sheets of a pack, andanalinedsuccession ofmechanisms located :between the 'successive pinch rolls so as to receive the pack fed by the latter, each-aoffsaid mechanisms including a stripping blade located above and adjacent to the path. of travel of the pack, meansoperable into lifting .relation to the foremost edge of the topmost lsheet 'of the advancing pack wherebj7 said sheet is elevated and 'directed over the; topY of said blade, magnetic means located beneath the Apath yof travel of the pack for resisting elevation of otherthan said topmost'sheet, and automatic means for seizing and removing said sheet asthe remaining' sheets ofthe pack blade. Y -r '3i Aimachine for vseparating the sheets of metal paoks",fcomprising an alined succession ofrelatively' spaced pairs of pack-feeding pirfch rolls, automatic' ,meansV for preliminarilyfbreal'ing down-` and restorin to f the originalplane thereof the foremost edges of are advanced beneathsaid the sheets of a pack, and an alined succession"V of mechanisms located between the successive ypinch rolls s o as to receive the pack fed by the latter, each of said mechanisms including a stripping blade located above and adjacent to the path of travel of the pack, means operable into lifting relation to the foremost edge of the topmost sheet of the advancing pack whereby said sheet is elevated and directed over the top of said blade, magnetic means located beneath the path of travel of the pack for resisting elevation of other than said topmost sheet, and pinch rolls located in .an elevated position lfor gripping and automatically removing said elevated sheet at the advancing speed of the remainder ofthe pack.

4. A machine for separating the sheets of` metal pack-s, comprising an alined 'succession of relatively spaced pairs of Vpack-feeding pinch rolls,automatic means for preliminaiily Vbreaking down andnrestoring to the original plane thereof the foremost edges of the sheets ofa pack, and" an alinedsuccession of mechanisms located between the successive pinch rolls so as to receive the pack fed,V Y by the latterfeach of said mechanisms inlocated in an elevated position for gripping` and automatically 'removing' the elevated sheet at substantially the same-time the remaining sheets of the pack are entered between theneXt pair of said succession of rolls, whereby said sheet and said Vpack are drawn forward on opposite sides of said blade.

' 5,. A machine for separating the sheets of metal packs, comprising an alined {succession of relatively spaced pairs of pack-feed-k ing pinch rolls, automatic means forypreliminarily breaking down andV restoringto` the original plane thereof the foremost edges of the sheets of a pack, and an a-lined succession of mechanisms located between the successivelpincli' rolls so as to receive the pack fed by the latter, each of said mechanisms including a stripping blade located above and adjacent to the path of travel ofthe pack,

means operable into lifting relation to the foremostledge of the topmost sheet of the advancing pack whereby said'sheet is elevated and directed over the top of'said blade, magnetic means, located beneathV the path o-f Y.' travel'of'the pack for resisting elevation of other than said topmost sheet,. and pinch f rolls located in an elevated position for grip- Vping and automatically removing the elel vated sheet at substantially the Sametime the Y remaining sheetsof the pack are entered between A'the"ne'zitf'i pair' of "said successin 'of rens, 'whereby Saa/sheet and "Stia packer-e drawniforwardfoii opposite sidesfoffsaid, ,i i blade, andf conveyors arrang'ed to receive fthe strippedsheets from said elevated rolls;l

c 6. A machine forseparating the sheetsofu metal Vpack including.,v means. ,formedftovr receive the foremost edges of sheets of the pack and to engage the top and bottom faces of the pack, means to move said first means downwardly and then upwardly kinto ythe original plane thereof so as to flex said edges of the pack' throughout thewidth thereof thereby to effect separation ofthe foremost edges ofthe pack, a succession of mechanisms each including means yto raise the foremost vedge of the uppermost sheet of the pack and to hold the remainder of the pack against upward movement, automatic means having a part formed to engage beneath thel said.V

raised edge and tov strip and remove said j sheet from the pack, means to lmove the pack into engagement with 'said raising and hold- Ving means and to then advance said remainder of the pack,'and means to advance said remainder of the pack to the succeeding mechanism.

7. A machine for separatinglthesheets of a metal pack inclu-dingymeans to initially L separate the foremostedges of the sheets of es?) the pack, a vsuccession of'mechanisms each including means to raisethegforemost edgel of the uppermost vsheetof the pack and to hold theremainder vof the pack against upward movement, auto-matic means having a part formed to engage beneath the vsaid raised edge and to strip andremove said into engagement with saidraising and holding' means and to then advance said re'- mainder of the pack, andmeans to advancel said remainder of the packt@ 'the '-Sccedng mechanism.

8. A machine for separating the sheets of.- a metal pack including vmeans 'to initially sepa-rate theedges of the sheetsat one end of the pack, a succession of mechanisms each including means kto .raise the said edges.y of the uppermost sheet of the pack from the remainder ofthe pack, automatic means to grip said edge and to remove said sheet from the remainder of the pack, and means to advance iooy sheet from the pack, rmeans to move the pack l:

the remainder of the pack to the succeeding mechanism.

9. A machine, for Vseparating the sheets of a metal pack including means formed to receive 'the foremost edges of the sheets of the pack and to engagethe top and bottomy faces of the pack, means to move said first means downwardly and then upwardly into 'thel original plane thereof'so as to flexfsad migasv ofthe ParkV throughout the width thereof thereby to effect separation `of the foremost edges of the pack, a succession ofmechanisms 'each including means to raise the saidedge of` J the uppermost sheet of thepack,` frQrn the remarinderthereof, atomatgicv-means l*to grip said edgerand to remove saidk sheetfrbm the remainder of the pack, and means to advance the remainder of the packte the succeeding mechanism. .Y i

In testimony Whereof,1 afx mysgnature.

ROLLAND E. PETERSON. 

